Monthly Archives: April 2014

Between email, Facebook, and everything else, we live in a world that can seem crowded.

But even with so much going on, do you ever feel a little lonely?

I’m here to tell you: you are not alone.

. . . what matters most in friendship is feeling understood and accepted, just the way you are.

And that can help you out in times of loneliness.

It’s something that I learned years ago that literally changed my life.

I thought, “Carol, you are always going to be with yourself—always. You might as well learn to become your own best friend.”

I was the one person who was always going to be with me, so I might as well be a little friendlier to myself!

Next time you’re feeling lonely, take a moment to understand, accept, and just love yourself.

I’ll tell you what happens when you do…

You’ll speak more kindly to yourself. You’ll see the best in yourself. You’ll be more encouraging about your dreams. You’ll spend some quality time with yourself, doing what you want most. You’ll be more willing to laugh with yourself.

Here’s the big benefit to trying this:

In your process of becoming your own best friend, other people will be drawn to you because you inspire them to be themselves.

Next time you’re feeling lonely, be friendlier to yourself for a while.

And then reach out. You may be surprised who else wants friendship, too.

Here’s to being friends to ourselves—remarkable and amazing women who are making a difference in the world.

Like this:

Will we respond with love when an opportunity is before us to make a visit or a phone call, write a note, or spend a day meeting the needs of someone else? Or will we be like the young man who attested to following all of God’s commandments:

“All these things have I kept from my youth up: what lack I yet?

“Jesus said unto him, If thou wilt be perfect, go and sell that thou hast, and give to the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven: and come and follow me.”3

The young man was being called to a greater service at the side of the Lord to do the work of the kingdom of God on earth, yet he turned away, “for he had great possessions.”4

What of our earthly possessions? … It is so important for each of us to strive to lay up our spiritual treasures in heaven—using our time, talents, and agency in service to God.

Like this:

We are surrounded by those in need of our attention, our encouragement, our support, our comfort, our kindness—be they family members, friends, acquaintances, or strangers. We are the Lord’s hands here upon the earth, with the mandate to serve and to lift His children. He is dependent upon each of us. …

“‘… Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these … , ye have done it unto me’ [Matthew 25:40].”

Like this:

“So here we have the burden of those called to bear the messianic message. In addition to teaching, encouraging, and cheering people on (that is the pleasant part of discipleship), from time to time these same messengers are called upon to worry, to warn, and sometimes just to weep (that is the painful part of discipleship). They know full well that the road leading to the promised land ‘flowing with milk and honey’ of necessity runs by way of Mount Sinai, flowing with ‘thou shalts’ and ‘thou shalt nots.'”